Waterproof breathable connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a waterproof breathable connector, which comprises an insulating body and a terminal assembly arranged in the insulating body, and the insulating body is provided with a slot which is inserted with a paired connector. And the insulating body is provided with a plurality of through air holes and a waterproof air-permeable film covering the air holes on the outer side of the slot. The waterproof and breathable connector combines a connector structure and a waterproof and breathable valve structure to form an integrated structure, so that the waterproof and breathable connector has the effects of realizing circuit connection and balancing air pressure, ensures normal operation and safety of a battery pack, and can save installation space and reduce product cost after being combined with the connector structure and the waterproof and breathable valve structure.

Description

Technical field:

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of battery pack accessories, in particular to a waterproof and breathable connector which combines a connector and a waterproof and breathable valve to simultaneously have circuit connection functions and waterproof and breathable functions. Background technology:

[0002] With the rapid development of new energy vehicle technology, electric vehicle performance is becoming increasingly stable, leading to increasing market demand. Battery packs, the power source of electric vehicles, are experiencing a sharp increase in demand. Connectors and vents, as key components of battery packs, provide circuit connections and balance air pressure inside and outside the battery pack, ensuring its proper operation and safety.

[0003] Currently, battery packs feature connectors located at the interfaces with the MCU and motor, while valves such as vents are installed on the sides of the pack. These separate installations, each fulfilling its own function, require multiple holes in the battery pack housing. Because the housing's thickness doesn't meet the requirements for the valves, welding nuts and other processes are required, increasing battery pack costs. Some manufacturers, driven by cost considerations, have reduced the installation of valves, increasing safety risks.

[0004] For example, the waterproof and breathable valve disclosed in CN220396557U, the waterproof and breathable valve disclosed in CN220134721U, and the waterproof and breathable valve disclosed in CN117128305A do not have the function of disclosing circuit connection; for example, the automotive connector disclosed in CN221379810U, the plug-in male and female automotive connector disclosed in CN221379875U, and the new energy vehicle connector and its installation method disclosed in CN117937192B do not have waterproof and breathable functions.

[0005] In view of this, the inventors propose the following technical solutions. Utility model content:

[0006] The purpose of the present utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide a waterproof and breathable connector, which combines a connector structure and a waterproof and breathable valve structure to form an integrated structure, so as to achieve the effect of circuit connection and air pressure balance, and after the combination, it can save installation space and reduce product costs.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a waterproof and breathable connector includes an insulating body and a terminal assembly installed in the insulating body, the insulating body has a slot for plugging into a mating connector, and the insulating body is provided with a plurality of through-holes and a waterproof and breathable membrane covering the holes on the outside of the slot.

[0008] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the insulating body is provided with a transversely protruding flange on the outside of the slot, and the flange is provided with the ventilation holes passing through the upper and lower end surfaces thereof; the waterproof breathable membrane is fixed on the flange.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, an annular mounting groove is provided on the flange; the waterproof breathable membrane is annular and is fixed to the bottom of the annular mounting groove by hot melting, ultrasonic welding or pressing with a pressure ring.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a dustproof protective cover is provided on the insulating body, and the dustproof protective cover is provided above the waterproof breathable membrane to protect the waterproof breathable membrane, and a gap is formed between the dustproof protective cover and the waterproof breathable membrane, and a plurality of laterally distributed breathable grooves are provided on the outside of the dustproof protective cover, and the breathable grooves protrude from the side of the insulating body.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the dustproof protective cover is made of plastic and can be fixed on the insulating body by any one or two methods: snap fastening, hot melting, hot riveting with positioning columns, or interference fit; wherein a vertical positioning hole plate is provided in the middle of the dustproof protective cover, and the dustproof protective cover is sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide ring at the upper end of the insulating body through the positioning hole plate, and the guide ring is provided with the above-mentioned slot.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a first annular groove is provided on the upper end face of the guide ring of the insulating body, an upper sealing ring is provided in the first annular groove, and the upper end of the upper sealing ring protrudes from the upper end face of the guide ring; a second annular groove is provided on the lower end of the flange, a lower sealing ring is provided in the second annular groove, and the lower end of the lower sealing ring protrudes from the lower end face of the flange.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, an annular shielding shell is provided on the inner wall of the slot, the upper end of the annular shielding shell is rolled outward to form a curling edge, and the curling edge is pressed into the first annular groove provided on the upper end surface of the insulating body.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the terminal assembly includes a sealing seat and a terminal fixed in the insulating body, a guide column is formed in the slot, a pair of sockets is provided on the guide column, the upper end of the terminal is passed through and fixed to the guide column, and is exposed in the pair of sockets; the sealing seat is provided with a wire hole, the wire connected to the terminal passes through the wire hole and forms a sealed contact, the lower end of the insulating body is provided with a lower cover, the lower cover is wrapped around the lower end surface of the sealing seat, and the lower cover is provided with a through hole for the wire to pass through.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a stepped groove is provided on the lower end surface of the insulating body, and the sealing seat is inserted and fixed in the stepped groove from bottom to top; a plurality of spaced sealing ribs are provided on the outside of the sealing seat, and the sealing ribs are in squeeze contact with the groove wall of the stepped groove.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the terminal assembly also includes an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve and a sleeve with a C-shaped cross-section. The inner sleeve and the outer sleeve are both sleeved on the outer periphery of the wire, and the sleeve is fixed to the outer periphery of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve and the sleeve are both passed through the wire hole of the sealing seat to form a sealed assembly, and the inner sleeve extends out of the upper end surface of the sealing seat.

[0017] After adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the existing technology: the waterproof and breathable connector of the present invention combines the connector structure and the waterproof and breathable valve structure to form an integrated structure, so as to achieve the effect of circuit connection and air pressure balance, thereby ensuring the normal operation and safety of the battery pack, and the combination can save installation space and reduce product costs. Description of the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the present invention from another perspective;

[0020] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional exploded view of the utility model;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a first working schematic diagram of the utility model;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a second working schematic diagram of the utility model;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the terminal assembly in the utility model;

[0024] Figure 7 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the dust protection cover in the utility model;

[0025] Figure 8It is a cross-sectional view of the present utility model. Specific implementation method:

[0026] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0027] See Figure 1-8 As shown, a waterproof and breathable connector includes an insulating body 1 and a terminal assembly 2 installed in the insulating body 1. The insulating body 1 has a slot 11 for plugging into a mating connector. The insulating body 1 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 12 and a waterproof and breathable membrane 3 covering the pores 12 on the outside of the slot 11. The waterproof and breathable membrane 3 achieves the function of waterproof and breathable, and cooperates with the pores 12 to achieve pressure difference balance.

[0028] When the utility model (without the dust protection cover 4 installed) is in normal operation, the situation is as follows:

[0029] Since circuit transmission is not affected by air pressure, the circuit can be connected normally regardless of positive or negative pressure, and the terminal components can work normally, while the balanced air pressure structure works due to positive and negative pressure.

[0030] When in the positive pressure exhaust state, the gas pressure inside the battery pack is greater than the external air pressure, which is a positive pressure exhaust state. In this state, the gas will flow out and release pressure to the outside of the connector through the vents 12 of the insulating body 1 and the waterproof breathable membrane 3; thereby reducing the internal air pressure of the battery pack and achieving pressure balance;

[0031] When in the negative pressure exhaust state, the gas pressure inside the battery pack is lower than the external air pressure, which is a negative pressure intake state. In this state, the gas will pass through the waterproof breathable membrane 3 and the air vent 12 into the battery pack to achieve pressure balance.

[0032] That is to say, the insulating body 1 and the terminal assembly 2 in the present invention are combined to form a connector structure, and the insulating body 1, the air vent 12 and the waterproof breathable membrane 3 are combined to form a waterproof breathable valve structure, forming an integrated structure, which has the effect of realizing circuit connection and balancing air pressure, ensuring the normal operation and safety of the battery pack, and after the combination, it can save installation space and reduce product costs. Specifically, the waterproof breathable connector of the present invention is mainly used in the automotive industry, especially in new energy power battery packs and energy storage battery packs. That is, after the waterproof breathable connector of the present invention is installed on the shell of the battery pack, it can not only play the role of circuit connection, but also have waterproof and breathable functions. At the same time, the connector and waterproof breathable valve on the current battery pack are installed separately, and the battery pack shell needs to open multiple installation holes. The waterproof breathable connector of the present invention has both the functions of a connector and a waterproof breathable valve, so that the number of openings can be reduced, thereby reducing costs.

[0033] The insulating body 1 is provided with a transversely protruding flange 13 on the outside of the slot 11. When the insulating body 1 of the present invention is installed on the battery pack housing, the flange 13 abuts against the outside of the battery pack housing. A second annular groove 132 is provided at the lower end of the flange 13, and a lower sealing ring 16 is disposed within the second annular groove 132. The lower sealing ring 16 and the second annular groove 132 are assembled in an interference fit, ensuring the stability and sealing of the assembly structure. The lower end of the lower sealing ring 16 protrudes beyond the lower end surface of the flange 13, and the lower sealing ring 16 is in compression contact with the battery pack housing, thereby achieving a sealed assembly effect.

[0034] The insulating body 1 can be assembled with the battery pack housing in a variety of ways. For example, a hole 133 can be formed on the flange 13, and a screw can be passed through the hole 133 of the flange 13 and screwed to the battery pack housing to secure the present invention to the battery pack housing. Alternatively, the insulating body 1 can be provided with an external thread at the lower end, which is located below the flange 13 and screwed to a screw hole provided on the battery pack housing to secure the present invention to the battery pack housing. In addition, the insulating body 1 can also be mounted on the battery pack housing through a snap-fit or interference fit structure, which will not be elaborated in detail here.

[0035] The flange 13 is provided with the vent holes 12 passing through the upper and lower end surfaces thereof; the waterproof breathable membrane 3 is fixed on the flange 13. The waterproof breathable membrane 3 is mainly made of E-PTFE, which can effectively play a role of waterproof and breathable.

[0036] In order to ensure the positioning of the waterproof breathable membrane 3, an annular mounting groove 131 is provided on the flange 13; the waterproof breathable membrane 3 is annular and is fixed to the bottom of the annular mounting groove 131 by hot melting, ultrasonic welding or pressing with a pressure ring, thereby ensuring that the waterproof breathable membrane 3 is stably installed on the flange 13.

[0037] To improve the waterproof and breathable performance and service life of the waterproof and breathable membrane 3, the following design is also implemented: the insulating body 1 is provided with a dustproof protective cover 4. This dustproof protective cover 4 is positioned over the waterproof and breathable membrane 3 to protect it, extend its service life, and effectively prevent dust from entering the membrane 3, thereby improving its waterproof and breathable performance. A gap is formed between the dustproof protective cover 4 and the membrane 3. Several transversely distributed ventilation grooves 41 are provided on the outside of the dustproof protective cover 4, protruding directly from the side of the insulating body 1. In this embodiment, the annular mounting groove 131 extends directly through the outer side of the flange 13, allowing the ventilation grooves 41 to protrude directly from the side of the insulating body 1.

[0038] When the utility model (with dust protection cover 4 installed) is working normally, the situation is as follows:

[0039] Since circuit transmission is not affected by air pressure, the circuit can be connected normally regardless of positive or negative pressure, and the terminal components can work normally, while the balanced air pressure structure works due to positive and negative pressure.

[0040] When in positive pressure exhaust state (such as Figure 4 ), the gas pressure inside the battery pack is greater than the external air pressure, which is a positive pressure exhaust state. In this state, the gas will pass through the vents 12 of the insulating body 1 and the waterproof breathable membrane 3, enter between the insulating body 1 and the dustproof protective cover 4, and then flow out to the outside of the connector through the vent grooves 41 on the outside of the dustproof protective cover 4, thereby releasing pressure; thereby reducing the internal air pressure of the battery pack and achieving pressure balance;

[0041] When in negative pressure exhaust state (such as Figure 5 ), the gas pressure inside the battery pack is lower than the external air pressure, which is a negative pressure air intake state. In this state, the gas will enter between the insulating body 1 and the dustproof protective cover 4 from the air permeable groove 41 on the outside of the dustproof protective cover 4, and then pass through the waterproof breathable membrane 3 and the air permeable hole 12 into the interior of the battery pack to achieve pressure balance.

[0042] The dustproof protective cover 4 is made of plastic and can be fixed to the insulating body 1 by any one or two methods: snap fastening, hot melting, hot riveting with a positioning column, or interference fit; wherein, the dustproof protective cover 4 is embedded and fixed in the annular mounting groove 131 and assembled by interference fit, and a convex-shaped positioning column 130 is provided on the annular mounting groove 131, and a positioning hole 40 adapted to the positioning column 130 is provided on the dustproof protective cover 4. After the positioning column 130 passes through the positioning hole 40, the upper end of the positioning column 130 is blocked on the outside of the positioning hole 40 by hot riveting, thereby stably mounting the dustproof protective cover 4 on the flange 13.

[0043] Among them, a vertical positioning hole plate 42 is set in the middle of the dust protection cover 4, and the dust protection cover 4 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide ring 14 at the upper end of the insulating body 1 through the positioning hole plate 42, thereby ensuring that the dust protection cover 4 is more stably installed on the insulating body 1, and the guide ring 14 is provided with the above-mentioned slot 11.

[0044] A first annular groove 141 is provided on the upper end surface of the guide ring 14 of the insulating body 1, and an upper sealing ring 15 is provided in the first annular groove 141. The upper end of the upper sealing ring 15 protrudes from the upper end surface of the guide ring 14, so that after the insulating body 1 is plugged into the mating connector, the upper sealing ring 15 can realize the sealed assembly of the two.

[0045] An annular shielding shell 5 is provided on the inner wall of the slot 11. This shielding shell 5 effectively shields noise and ensures stable conduction. The upper end of the annular shielding shell 5 is curled outward to form a curled edge 51. This curled edge 51 is pressed into a first annular groove 141 provided on the upper end surface of the insulating body 1, thereby ensuring that the annular shielding shell 5 is stably installed on the inner wall of the slot 11.

[0046] The terminal assembly 2 includes a sealing seat 21 and a terminal 22 fixed in the insulating body 1. A guide column 17 is formed in the slot 11, and a mating hole 171 is provided on the guide column 17. The upper end of the terminal 22 is fixed to the guide column 17 and exposed in the mating hole 171. After mating with the mating connector, the conductive piece of the mating connector passes through the mating hole 171 and contacts the terminal 22 to achieve conductive connection. The sealing seat 21 is provided with a wire hole 211. The wire connected to the terminal 22 passes through the wire hole 211 and forms a sealed contact. The lower end of the insulating body 1 is provided with a lower cover 6. The lower cover 6 is wrapped around the lower end surface of the sealing seat 21 and is used to prevent and protect the terminal assembly 2, thereby ensuring that the sealing seat 21 is stably installed in the insulating body 1. The sealing seat 21 can achieve sealed assembly of the wire, and the lower cover 6 is provided with a through hole 61 for the wire to pass through.

[0047] Among them, the lower end surface of the insulating body 1 is provided with a stepped groove 18, and the sealing seat 21 is inserted and fixed in the stepped groove 18 from bottom to top, so that the sealing seat 21 is stably assembled in the insulating body 1; the outside of the sealing seat 21 is provided with multiple sealing ribs 212 distributed at intervals, and the sealing ribs 212 are squeezed and contacted with the groove wall of the stepped groove 18, which can not only improve the tightness of the assembly, but also ensure the sealing performance of the assembly.

[0048] The terminal assembly 2 also includes an inner sleeve 23, an outer sleeve 24 and a sleeve 25 with a C-shaped cross-section. The inner sleeve 23 and the outer sleeve 24 are both sleeved on the periphery of the wire. The sleeve 25 is clamped and fixed on the periphery of the inner sleeve 23 to fix the inner sleeve 23 on the wire, and the outer sleeve 24 and the sleeve 25 are both passed through the wire hole 211 of the sealing seat 21 to form a sealed assembly, thereby making the wire and the sealing seat 21 form a more stable assembly, and the inner sleeve 23 extends out of the upper end surface of the sealing seat 21.

[0049] In summary, the insulating body 1 and the terminal assembly 2 in the present invention are combined to form a connector structure, while the insulating body 1, the air vent 12 and the waterproof breathable membrane 3 are combined to form a waterproof breathable valve structure, forming an integrated structure, which has the effect of realizing circuit connection and balancing air pressure, ensuring the normal operation and safety of the battery pack, and after the combination, it can save installation space and reduce product costs. Specifically, the waterproof and breathable connector of the present invention is mainly used in the automotive industry, especially in new energy power battery packs and energy storage battery packs. That is, after the waterproof and breathable connector of the present invention is installed on the shell of the battery pack, it can not only play the role of circuit connection, but also have waterproof and breathable functions. At the same time, the connector and waterproof breathable valve on the current battery pack are installed separately, and the battery pack shell needs to open multiple installation holes, while the waterproof and breathable connector of the present invention has both the functions of a connector and a waterproof breathable valve, so that the number of openings can be reduced, thereby reducing costs.

[0050] Of course, the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications made based on the structure, features and principles described in the scope of the patent application of the present invention should be included in the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

Claims

1. A waterproof and breathable connector, comprising an insulating body (1) and a terminal assembly (2) mounted in the insulating body (1), wherein the insulating body (1) has a slot (11) for mating with a mating connector, and is characterized in that: The insulating body (1) is provided with a plurality of through-holes (12) on the outside of the slot (11) and a waterproof breathable membrane (3) covering the holes (12).

2. The waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating body (1) is provided with a transversely protruding flange (13) on the outside of the slot (11), and the flange (13) is provided with the ventilation holes (12) passing through the upper and lower end surfaces thereof; the waterproof breathable membrane (3) is fixed on the flange (13).

3. The waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: An annular mounting groove (131) is provided on the flange (13); the waterproof breathable membrane (3) is annular and is fixed to the bottom of the annular mounting groove (131) by hot melting, ultrasonic welding, or pressing with a pressure ring.

4. A waterproof and breathable connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The insulating body (1) is provided with a dustproof protective cover (4), which is provided on top of the waterproof breathable membrane (3) to protect the waterproof breathable membrane (3), and a gap is formed between the dustproof protective cover (4) and the waterproof breathable membrane (3). The outer side of the dustproof protective cover (4) is provided with a plurality of transversely distributed breathable grooves (41), and the breathable grooves (41) protrude from the side of the insulating body (1).

5. The waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The dustproof protective cover (4) is made of plastic and can be fixed on the insulating body (1) by any one or two methods, such as snap fastening, hot melting, hot riveting with a positioning column, or interference fit; wherein a vertical positioning hole plate (42) is provided in the middle of the dustproof protective cover (4), and the dustproof protective cover (4) is sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide ring (14) at the upper end of the insulating body (1) through the positioning hole plate (42), and the guide ring (14) is provided with the slot (11).

6. A waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The upper end surface of the guide ring (14) of the insulating body (1) is provided with a first annular groove (141), an upper sealing ring (15) is provided in the first annular groove (141), and the upper end of the upper sealing ring (15) protrudes outside the upper end surface of the guide ring (14); the lower end of the flange (13) is provided with a second annular groove (132), a lower sealing ring (16) is provided in the second annular groove (132), and the lower end of the lower sealing ring (16) protrudes outside the lower end surface of the flange (13).

7. The waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: An annular shielding shell (5) is provided on the inner wall of the slot (11), and the upper end of the annular shielding shell (5) is rolled outward to form a curling edge (51), and the curling edge (51) is pressed into a first annular groove (141) provided on the upper end surface of the insulating body (1).

8. The waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The terminal assembly (2) includes a sealing seat (21) and a terminal (22) fixed in the insulating body (1); a guide column (17) is formed in the slot (11); the guide column (17) is provided with a plug hole (171); the upper end of the terminal (22) is fixed to the guide column (17) and exposed in the plug hole (171); the sealing seat (21) is provided with a wire hole (211); the wire connected to the terminal (22) passes through the wire hole (211) and forms a sealed contact; the lower end of the insulating body (1) is provided with a lower cover (6), the lower cover (6) is wrapped around the lower end surface of the sealing seat (21), and the lower cover (6) is provided with a through hole (61) for the wire to pass through.

9. The waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The lower end surface of the insulating body (1) is provided with a stepped groove (18), and the sealing seat (21) is inserted and fixed in the stepped groove (18) from bottom to top; the outside of the sealing seat (21) is provided with a plurality of spaced sealing ribs (212), and the sealing ribs (212) are in extrusion contact with the groove wall of the stepped groove (18).

10. The waterproof and breathable connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The terminal assembly (2) further comprises an inner sleeve (23), an outer sleeve (24) and a sleeve (25) having a C-shaped cross section, wherein the inner sleeve (23) and the outer sleeve (24) are both sleeved around the outer periphery of the wire, the sleeve (25) is fixedly mounted on the outer periphery of the inner sleeve (23), and the outer sleeve (24) and the sleeve (25) are both inserted into the wire hole (211) of the sealing seat (21) to form a sealed assembly, and the inner sleeve (23) extends out of the upper end surface of the sealing seat (21).

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